This summer feels like it is hotter than ever. While you suffer and sweat, your yard can be suffering above and below the surface. How can you take steps to protect your beautiful plants and garden from the intense August heat? Preparation is the name of the game.
Water
Evaluate how you can use water. Is your county or city under a period of water restrictions? Are you free to use as much water as you’re willing to pay for? You can help save water by using mulch, drip system reticulation, water retention products like crystals or clays, and compost. The best time of day to water is in the evening or the early morning. This cuts down on the amount of water that will evaporate and never reach your plant’s roots. If you have unlimited water, water deeply and often. If you have restrictions, water deeply and occasionally. By watering frequently with small amounts of water you encourage growth but promote shallower roots, a bad thing when the coolest parts of soil are well below the surface.
Maximize Your Shade
Strategize on how to increase the shade available to plants in your garden during the heat wave. Do you own any shade sails? Are there trees that are partially shielding plants? In the event that you have no other options, consider using an old sheet during very hot and dry days to prevent the harsh sun from beating down on your plants. The downside to increased shade is that your plant eventually loses some of its tolerance to the sun, so consider using temporary solutions instead of more permanent ones.
Customize Your Solutions
If you have the time and expertise, customize your heat wave solutions to the plants that are in your garden.
- Vegetables—Short amounts of heat will not affect them, but longer periods of intense heat can stagnate growth and cause heat shock. Vegetables may wilt during the day or change over from growing fruit to producing flowers as a life-preserving move. The plants are aware that they are not going to receive enough water to produce an edible yield of fruit, so instead they focus on producing for next year’s crop of plants.
- Moveable plants—These are the simplest plants to shift around when a heat wave sets in. Purchase saucers to place underneath the plants and fill them up with water every morning to help keep the plants well hydrated and cool during the day.
We Can Help Your Garden Survive the Heat Wave
If you are looking for help keeping your yard green in the summer heat, Atlantic Maintenance Group is ready to help you with our variety of landscaping, asphalt, snow removal, and concrete maintenance services. We are experts in our field and we are prepared to meet your needs with a price and product that will leave you grinning. If you’re interested in getting a free quote or more information, visit us online or give us a call at (410) 768-4720. To see examples of our work and stay up to date on our specials, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.